GRAMERCY — Patricia Dupuy-Rizzuto’s desire to see the world after graduating from high school fuels her decades later for a career in tourism.

Many of her Lutcher High School classmates attended college, married a sweetheart or pursued a job after graduation. She, however, chose to serve in the United States Army.

“Sounds corny,” said Dupuy, “but I did want to see the world.”

Besides travel, the decision to join the army should not have been a surprise considering her father, now deceased, was a decorated World War II Veteran.

Dupuy’s aspiration to travel the world, initially took her 500 miles away from home for Basic and Advanced Infantry Training (AIT).

Upon her arrival, she was given a gas mask, M-16 rifle and orders to march.

“It was hard, and you realize quickly St. James Parish wasn’t so bad after all,” Dupuy said.

She was assigned to forts in Alabama, Texas, California, Washington and Germany.

Although military assignments called her to work in those locations, Dupuy managed to take full advantage of the destinations for extended travel and fun.

“I joined a parachute club and jumped from Huey helicopters, bicycled a Raleigh 10-speed into Canada, viewed the Louvre and Eiffel Tower in Paris and kissed Ireland’s Blarney Stone,” Dupuy said.

According to the History Channel and Irish legend, kissing the Blarney Stone gives one “the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness” — perfect gifts in the field of tourism.

Her travels continued as she admired castles in Germany and Scotland and appreciated the view of tulips, diamonds and Anne Frank’s house in Holland.

She has skied in Switzerland, toured Buckingham Palace in England and NATO in Belgium.

Honorably discharged from the Army, Dupuy attended a two-year business community college in St. Landry Parish before holding various temporary and full time jobs.

Homesick, she decided to return to St. James Parish.

“I was elated to be home,” she said. “It was October. I could smell the sugar cane while walking the levees and looking out at the Mississippi River and people. Actually, everyone talked to me, and it felt so good to be home.”

Subsequently, Dupuy was “hit by the love bug” and married Frank Rizzuto Sr. No children were born of their union but through marriage she gained a son, daughter in-law, grandson and granddaughter.

Hired by the St. James Parish Government, Dupuy served as a 911 Emergency Dispatcher for 13 years. Now, she welcomes travelers near and far at the St. James Parish Welcome Center as a tourist information officer — today serving in her seventh year in this capacity.

The St. James Parish Welcome Center is the only full-time welcome center in the tri-parishes.

The center is parish-operated but also adheres to the state of Louisiana and Louisiana Travel Promotion Association (LTPA) regulations.

Dupuy highly recommends people to become tourists.

“The tourists are awesome,” said Dupuy. “A majority (of tourists) want the Cajun experience, plantations, alligators, food, history and genealogy searches.”

Dupuy believes in offering the best tourist services as a tourism information officer.

“Tourists pay a lot of money for holidays and vacation time, generating dollars into our local economy,” Dupuy said.

“For me, there is no such thing as saying ‘I don’t know.’”

She continued, “I definitely do not know it all, but, I know a little bit about everything.”

Dupuy definitely wants the community to know with the assistance and knowledge of the part-time staff all things are made possible at the welcome center.

In 2014, the welcome center received a total of 4,542 visitors. Out-of-state visitors totaled 1,196 and visiting from other countries were 305 people.

“I will always promote and support St. James Parish,” Dupuy said. “Leaving the parish helped me to appreciate it.

“The welcome center holds a wealth of information for outsiders. What locals already know is it’s a great place to be. That’s why I came back, and if I do my job correctly, tourists will, too.”

By Shea Drake